Sabbath School Lessons on Isaiah

About the Author

Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. is the author of these Sabbath School lesson study outlines. He is the Reed Larson Professor of Labor Law at Regent University School of Law. Professor Cameron has devoted his life to promoting the Gospel and defending believers. In addition to teaching at an overtly Christian law school, he continues his 39 year practice of law which is limited to the litigation of constitutional rights and religious freedom cases for employees. He holds an undergraduate degree from Andrews University and a Doctor of Law from Emory University School of Law.

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Introduction: Do you like change? Most people fear change because it
brings uncertainty. When it comes to the basics, there has been
little change in my life. I've lived in the same house for over 20
years, been married to the same wife for almost 30 years, had the
same job for almost 30 years, and have been a member of the same
local church for about 25 years. That is a lot of "sameness." But in
the last three years my two immediate bosses have changed. While
that change was taking place, I had some anxiety about the leadership
at work.

Outside of the basics, my life is one of constant change. I
litigate cases for a living. The judge is "the boss" in the case, and
since I have cases all over the country, I'm always before a
different judge in a different court. That can create some real
anxiety. This week our lesson starts out with changing leadership,
let's dive into our study of Isaiah!

King Uzziah Dies

Read Isaiah 6:1-3. Uzziah had been king for more than 50
years. How do you think it made the people feel to have
him die?

Since Uzziah was generally a good king, how would you
guess Isaiah felt about it?

Why do you think God showed Isaiah this vision at the
time when King Uzziah died? (We want someone in
charge who has our best interests in mind. We want
rulers who like us. God shows Isaiah that although
Uzziah may have died, God is still on His throne and
is in charge.)

What does this vision show us about the nature of our God?
(He wants to reassure His followers.)

Woeful Man!

Read Isaiah 6:2 again. Let's notice these angels for a
minute. By the way, this is the only time "seraphs" are
mentioned in the Bible.

The word "seraph" means "to burn." How do you think
these angels looked?

How do these seraphs use their wings? (Two to cover
the face, two to cover the feet (or the lower part of
the body) and two to fly.)

Why do you think these angels used their wings
in such a way? (They are in the presence of God.
They veiled their faces because of a holy God.
They covered their feet as a suggestion of
respect. The common was kept from God's view.
They needed two to keep flying!)

Is what we wear to church a cultural issue? (I've
struggled with this because I do not want anyone to
be discouraged from coming to church because they
have "inadequate" clothes. Texts like these about the
seraphs suggest that we need to wear the "best"
clothes that we own when we go to church. It is a
matter of respect to God.)

Read Isaiah 6:3-4. If you are worried about "second-hand
smoke," you need to stay away from the presence of God!
Seriously, why is there such physical force connected with
the message of these angels?

Why should the temple be filled with smoke? (Read
Exodus 19:18. This tells us that the smoke that
surrounds God is the result of God traveling in fire.
This is called the "Shekinah cloud" and is often
associated with God. See, e.g. 1 Kings 8:10 and Ezra
10:4.)

Why do you think that God and the angels appear to be
burning? This sounds more like a picture of hell!
(If you look at Numbers 31:21-24 we see that burning
and water are God's means for purifying an item.
Based on that, God's fiery appearance symbolizes the
source of purity.)

Why, then, do we have a picture in Revelation
20:9-10 of the devil burning? (Absolute impurity
meets absolute purity. The fire of God consumes
the impurity of sin.)

Those of you that are more scientifically oriented
can tell me - isn't smoke evidence of the conversion
of energy from one form to another? If so, this may
be some evidence of the energy that surrounds God.
Energy, purity, power: that is our God! In times of
change, God remains the power of the universe.

Are the words of the angels in Isaiah 6:3 less
powerful than the delivery of the words in Isaiah
6:4? (The entire picture in Isaiah 6 conveys a sense
of power. The dazzling angels (remember they looked
like fire) cover their faces, they continually praise
God, and you can feel the power of the presence of
God and these angels. What they say is that God is
holy and His influence fills the whole earth.)

Read Isaiah 6:5. What is Isaiah's reaction to being in the
presence of God?

How is this a reassurance in a time of change?

Why does Isaiah speak of his lips? If you find
yourself in the presence of someone important, aren't
you more concerned about whether your hair is combed
and your clothes are clean and neat? (Isaiah, the
prophet, has a message for God's people. His point is
that he is unworthy to bring this message. His first
need is to have his sins forgiven.)

Read Isaiah 6:6-7. What does the live coal represent?
(Remember that Isaiah 6:1&4 tell us that God, the seraphs
and Isaiah are in the temple. This coal is taken from the
altar - the place of the atonement for sin. The coal is
applied to the place in which Isaiah says he has the
greatest need.)

Read Acts 2:3-4. Isaiah has a burning coal touched to
his lips. The apostles have tongues of fire rest on
them. What pattern do you see?

What lesson do you find?

What message do you see in Isaiah confessing his
unworthiness and seeking cleansing for his words
before he begins his mission? (Another matter of
change is Isaiah's new mission which we will read
about shortly. God's leaders need to be first to
confess their sins and seek God's blessings. How can
they teach others to repent if they have not
themselves repented?)

Many of your read my little article about The
Passion of The Christ and how it caused me to
fall on my knees and confess my sins. One reader
wrote that he could never trust me as a Bible
teacher because my of response. Isaiah shows us
this is the correct response when we contemplate
our holy, perfect, powerful and loving God.

The Volunteer

Read Isaiah 6:8. Why does God call for a volunteer when He
is there with Isaiah? (This reinforces the idea that God
does not force us to do His will. He asks us to volunteer
for His work.)

Who is the "us" in verse 8? (Notice that the seraphs
say "Holy" three times. Both the reference to "us"
and the repetition of the word "Holy" imply the
Trinity.)

How many does volunteers does God call for? (He seems
to be calling for one. "Whom" shall I send?)

The Message

Read Isaiah 6:9-10. Isaiah now has a new mission from God.
What does God see is the major problem?

Is Isaiah the first one to mention the problem to the
people? Is the issue that they have not heard God's
message before? (The message is that they need to
clean their ears, open their eyes and soften their
hearts.)

We have a great concern to fulfill the "Gospel
Commission" that the whole world hear the message of
Jesus. What complication to our task do verses 9 and
10 suggest? (It is not simply hearing the word, it is
understanding it. We have a mission field among those
who "know" as well as for those who have not heard.)

Isaiah seems to be asking, "What will it take for the
people to both hear and understand?"

What is the answer?

Read Isaiah 6:13. This verse contains both bad and good
news. What is the bad news? (That even though 10% of the
people survive at first, what remains will be attacked a
second time. Things are going to get much worse.)

What is the good news? (That out of the "stumps"
which are left, the "holy seed" will arise.)

What encouragement do you find here when bad things
are happening in your life, when change is taking
place? (Our whole lesson this week, from a fiery God,
to the burning coal on the lips, to the destruction
of those who will not pay attention, builds a
picture. Our God is in charge and He will cleanse us
from our sins. Heat, pressure, burn away the
impurities and bring forth the holy. God uses change
to make us better people.)

Friend, how about you? Are you willing to be purified? Are
you willing to respond to the call of God to share His
word?

Next week: When Your World Is Falling Apart.

* Copr. 2004, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses a blackboard or some other visual aid.